Agricultural implement with a weight distribution system

ABSTRACT

An agricultural implement for applying an ingredient to a geographic area, the agricultural implement includes a chassis, weight bearing conveyance devices, a component and a weight distribution system. The weight bearing conveyance devices including a fore conveyance device and an aft conveyance device. The fore and aft conveyance devices are connected to and carry the chassis respectively in a fore and an aft position. The component is carried by and coupled to the chassis. The weight distribution system is configured to allow an adjustment of a position of the component relative to the chassis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural implements, and, moreparticularly, to agricultural sprayers having at least one onboard tankfor holding agricultural chemicals.

2. Description of the Related Art

Agricultural sprayers apply a liquid to a crop or the ground at aspecified application rate. The liquid may be in the form of a solutionor mixture, with a carrier liquid (such as water) being mixed with oneor more active ingredients (such as a herbicide, fertilizer and/or apesticide). The application rate can vary over different parts of afield through the use of precision farming techniques, such as by usingGPS data to activate/deactivate boom sections of the sprayer as thesprayer traverses over the field.

Agricultural sprayers may be pulled as an implement or self-propelled,and typically include a tank, a pump, a boom assembly, and a pluralityof nozzles carried by the boom assembly at spaced locations. The boomassembly typically includes a pair of wing booms, with each wing boomextending to either side of the sprayer when in an unfolded state. Eachwing boom may include multiple boom sections, each with a number ofspray nozzles (also sometimes referred to as spray tips). Of course, aself-propelled sprayer also includes an onboard power plant (e.g.,diesel engine) providing motive force and other power such as hydraulicpower, electrical power, etc.

Agricultural sprayers may generally be divided into two types or methodsof application: a batch application method, and a metered applicationmethod. With a batch application method, a tank is filled with thecarrier liquid, one or more active ingredients are mixed with thecarrier liquid in the tank, and the solution or mixture is applied at apredetermined application rate over the field (defined by vehicle travelspeed, nozzle size and fluid operating pressure). A batch applicationmethod is effective but is not sensitive to different application needsacross the field. Moreover, it is rarely the case where liquid in thetank is not left over at the end of spraying, which then must bediscarded. These factors increase the operating costs associated with abatch application method.

With a metered application method, the active ingredient(s) are mixed ata metered rate with the carrier liquid as it is transferred from acarrier tank to the sprayer nozzles. Such metering may be carried outusing pumps, venturi nozzles or controllable valves. A meteredapplication method allows the application rate to be more easily changed“on-the-fly” across a field, and avoids the need to dispose of unusedspray solution at the end of a spray operation (except what may be leftin the lines, pump, etc. between the tank and nozzles).

Conventional sprayers using a metered application method include acarrier tank and one or more active ingredient tanks, all of which arepermanently mounted to the sprayer chassis. The carrier liquid is pumpedfrom a nurse tank (e.g., carried on a flat truck or trailer) to thecarrier tank on the sprayer using a transfer pump and fill lines.Similarly, the active ingredient(s) are pumped from a nurse tank to arespective active ingredient tank on the sprayer using a transfer pumpand fill lines.

What is needed in the art is an agricultural sprayer which canselectively shift the weight distribution and hence the center ofgravity of the sprayer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an agricultural implement with a weightdistribution system applied to an agricultural sprayer.

The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural implement forapplying an ingredient to a geographic area, the agricultural implementincludes a chassis, weight bearing conveyance devices, a component and aweight distribution system. The weight bearing conveyance devicesincluding a fore conveyance device and an aft conveyance device. Thefore and aft conveyance devices are connected to and carry the chassisrespectively in fore and aft positions. The component is carried by andcoupled to the chassis. The weight distribution system is configured toadjust a position of the component relative to the chassis in order toshift a weight distribution between the fore conveyance device and theaft conveyance device.

The invention in another form is directed to a weight distributionsystem for an agricultural implement for applying an ingredient to ageographic area, the agricultural implement includes a chassis, weightbearing conveyance devices, and a component. The weight bearingconveyance devices including a fore conveyance device and an aftconveyance device. The fore and aft conveyance devices are connected toand carry the chassis respectively in fore and aft positions. Thecomponent is carried by and coupled to the chassis. The weightdistribution system is configured to adjust a position of the componentrelative to the chassis dependent upon a detected weight distributionbetween the fore conveyance device and the aft conveyance device.

The invention in yet another form is directed to a method ofdistributing weight of an agricultural implement configured to apply aningredient to a geographic area. The agricultural implement has achassis and a plurality of weight bearing conveyance devices including afore conveyance device and an aft conveyance device. The fore and aftconveyance devices are connected to and carry the chassis respectivelyin a fore and an aft position of the chassis. There is at least onecomponent carried by and coupled to the chassis. The method includes thesteps of detecting and adjusting. The detecting step detects a weightdistribution between the fore conveyance device and the aft conveyancedevice. The adjusting step adjusts a position of the component relativeto the chassis dependent upon a detected weight distribution determinedin the detecting step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an agricultural sprayerhaving a weight distribution system of the present invention, showntraversing over a geographic area such as a field;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the agricultural sprayer shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the weight distributionsystem associated with the sprayer of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications arenot to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown an agricultural sprayer 10 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. Agricultural sprayer 10 is shown as a self-propelledsprayer with a plurality of wheels 12 and a prime mover in the form ofan internal combustion (IC) engine (e.g., diesel engine) within anengine compartment 14. However, agricultural sprayer 10 could also be atrack-type self-propelled vehicle for certain applications.

Agricultural sprayer 10 includes a chassis 16 to which a pair of wingbooms 18 and 20 are connected, united by a center boom 19. For sake ofdescription, wing boom 18 is considered a left wing boom and wing boom20 is considered a right wing boom. The wing booms 18, 20 are connectedto center boom 19, joined about respective pivot connections 22, 24.Center boom 19 is connected at or near the rear of chassis 16. The wingbooms 18, 20 are designed to fold forward toward the leading end ofchassis 16 when wing booms 18, 20 are moved from an extended position,shown in FIG. 1, to a stowed or transport position (not shown).

Each wing boom 18, 20 supports a number of boom sections 18A, 18B, 18C,20A, 20B and 20C. Center boom 19 and wing boom sections 18A, 18B, 18C,20A, 20B and 20C each include a number of spray nozzles (not shown). Inthe embodiment shown, each wing boom has three boom sections,corresponding to the fold locations of the wing boom.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a carrier tank 26 is positioned generally inthe center of chassis 16 between wing booms 18, 20 and behind anoperator cab 28. Carrier tank 26 is designed to contain a carrier fluid,typically water, which is fed to the spray nozzles through a series offluid lines (not shown). The water is mixed in a metered fashion withone or more active ingredients (i.e., agricultural chemicals such asfertilizer, herbicide or pesticide) stored in respective activeingredient tanks 30 also carried onboard sprayer 10. Metering devicesfor metering an active ingredient into a carrier liquid from carriertank 26 are known in the art and not described in greater detail herein.Operator cab 28 contains a control panel (not shown) that has variousoperator controls for controlling operations of the sprayer and itscomponents including the controlling of a weight distribution system 36.Although a meter spraying system is depicted the present invention isalso applicable to a non-metered system.

Agricultural sprayer 10 includes a storage area 32 associated withchassis 16 which is configured for, and dedicated to, removable storageof each active ingredient tank 30. In the illustrated embodiment,storage area 32 includes a support structure 34, which is coupled tochassis 16. Support structure 34 has a generally horizontal platform forsupporting each active ingredient tank 30.

Now, additionally referring to FIG. 3 there is illustrated inschematical form an embodiment of weight distribution system 36 for thedetection of the weight distribution of agricultural sprayer 10 and forthe alteration of the weight distribution in order to enhance theperformance characteristics of agricultural sprayer 10. Weightdistribution system 36 determines the weight carried by a front axleassembly 38 and a rear axle assembly 40 and alters the distribution ofthe weight therebetween by moving at least one component carried bychassis 16 along chassis 16. The component can be carrier tank 26 and/orsupport structure 34 with ingredient tanks 30 thereon. Carrier tank 26and ingredient tanks 30 (along with support structure 34) can moregenerally be referred to as containers 26 and 30 or as components 26 and30.

Front axle assembly 38 and rear axle assembly 40 can more generally beconsidered weight bearing conveyance devices 38 and 40, which althoughbeing depicted as having wheels 12 of the same size, may have tracksand/or wheels of differing sizes. Weight bearing conveyance devices 38and 40 are more conveniently referred to as a fore conveyance device 38and an aft conveyance device 40. Fore and aft conveyance devices 38 and40 are fixedly connected to chassis 16 and they carry chassis 16respectively in a fore and an aft position of chassis 16.

The weight distribution system 36 is configured to adjust a position ofthe component(s) 26, 30 relative to chassis 16 dependent upon a detectedweight distribution between fore conveyance device 38 and aft conveyancedevice 40. The weight distribution system 36 generally includes a weightsensor 42, a weight sensor 44, a controller 46, a position sensor 48 andan actuator 50. Weight sensors 42 and 44 are respectively associatedwith fore conveyance device 38 and aft conveyance device 40. Weightsensors 42 and 44 each generate a signal representative of the weightcarried respectively by fore conveyance device 38 and aft conveyancedevice 40. The signals are conveyed to controller 46, which executes analgorithm to determine if an adjustment of a longitudinal position ofcontainers 26, 30 on chassis 16 is needed to adjust the weightdistribution on fore conveyance device 38 and aft conveyance device 40.While weight sensor 42 and weight sensor 44 are referred to in thesingular, more than one sensor may be used to produce the individualsignals.

Although a controller 46 and sensors 42 and 44 are illustrated in FIG.3, it is to be understood that these are not needed in allexemplifications of the present invention. The operator of agriculturalsprayer 10 can sense the need for the weight distribution and effect thedistribution by causing actuator 50 to be energized in a selecteddirection. For example, in anticipation of climbing a hill the operatorcan shift the weight forward, knowing that the angle of incline willcause the weight supported by the aft conveyance device 40 to increase.In another situation, such as a wet area, if the aft conveyance device40 is sinking, and the fore conveyance device 38 is losing traction,then the operator can shift the weight forward to relieve the weightcarried by the aft portion and to add weight to enhance the traction inthe fore portion. In a reverse situation, if the fore portion is sinkinginto the ground, then the weight can be shifted in the aft direction.

If an adjustment of the position of containers 26, 30 is determined tobe needed to alter the weight distribution of agricultural sprayer 10,then controller 46 detects the current position of containers 26 and/or30 by way of a position sensor 48 and effects the movement by activatingactuator(s) 50 to move containers 26 and/or 30 a prescribed distance ina fore or aft direction 52, as appropriate. Position sensor 48 may beintegral with actuator 50, or may not be needed at all. Controller 46 isalso in communication with a control panel (not shown) in cab 28allowing an operator to activate or disable weight distribution system36 and to assign weight distribution criteria for differing transportactivities. It is contemplated that multiple weight distributioncriteria may be carried out dependent upon the operational activity ofagricultural sprayer 10. For example, when in a road transport mode(booms 18 and 20 folded and in a road gear) that a weight distributionbiased with an increased weight on aft conveyance device 40 may bedesirable. Another example, is when in a spraying mode with booms 18 and20 extended that an equal weight distribution between fore conveyancedevice 38 and aft conveyance device 40 may be desired.

It is also contemplated that the present invention may include anaccommodation if wheels 12 have differing ground profiles from front toback. Controller 46 is configured to adjust the position of thecomponent(s) 26 and/or 30 dependent upon a computed value relating tothe compression of the ground beneath fore conveyance device 38 and acomputed value relating to the compression of the ground beneath aftconveyance device 40, so as to equalize the weight per unit of area eachwheel 12 exerts upon the ground. The information regarding the footprintof the wheels being entered by the operator, if needed. If wheels 12 arethe same size then no bias is needed in the calculation to offsetdiffering wheel profiles.

It is further contemplated to allow the operator to command controller46 to position containers 26 and 30 at a desired location along chassis16. For example, when a maintenance action is needed then containers 26and 30 can be move out of the way for the maintenance action to becarried out. Another example, could occur if agricultural sprayer 10 isstuck in the field or is experiencing wheel slippage on one axle, thenthe operator can cause containers 26 and 30 to be moved to enhance theoverall traction of agricultural sprayer 10.

The present invention can also be considered a method of distributingweight of agricultural sprayer 10. The method can include several stepsincluding the steps of detecting and adjusting. The detecting stepdetects a weight distribution between the fore conveyance device 38 andthe aft conveyance device 40. The adjusting step adjusts a position ofcomponent 26 and/or 30 relative to chassis 16 dependent upon a detectedweight distribution determined in the detecting step. These detectingand adjusting steps take place as the ingredient in component 26 and/or30 is applied to the geographical area.

The detecting step may further include the step of creating fore and aftweight signals that are respectively representative of weight carried byfore conveyance device 38 and aft conveyance device 40. Those signalsbeing conveyed to controller 46, which uses the information contained inthe signals to adjust the at least one actuator 50, coupled to component26 and/or 30 to thereby move component 26 and/or 30 in a fore or aftdirection 52 along chassis 16. It can be considered that controller 46may further compute values respectively relating to the compression ofground beneath wheels 12 of fore conveyance device 38 and aft conveyancedevice 40. The computed values take into account potential differencesassociated with differing size wheels 12, so that the adjusting step,previously discussed, is dependent upon the computed values. Assumingthat there is no substantial difference in wheels 12, then the adjustingstep can endeavor to approximately, or substantially, equalize the twocomputed values by adjusting the position of component 26 and/or 30.

Advantageously, the present invention dynamically balances the weightdistribution of agricultural sprayer 10 as the contents of containers 26and/or 30 are expended. Another advantage of the present invention isthat it allows for enhancement of the handling characteristics of thesprayer.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An agricultural implement for applying aningredient to a geographic area, said agricultural implement comprising:a chassis; a plurality of weight bearing conveyance devices including afore conveyance device and an aft conveyance device, said fore and aftconveyance devices being connected to and carrying said chassisrespectively in a fore and an aft position of said chassis; at least onecomponent carried by and coupled to said chassis; and a weightdistribution system configured to allow an adjustment of a position ofsaid component relative to said chassis.
 2. The agricultural implementof claim 1, wherein said weight distribution system is furtherconfigured to adjust said position of said component as the ingredientis applied to the geographical area.
 3. The agricultural implement ofclaim 1, wherein said weight distribution system is configured to adjustthe position of said component dependent upon a detected weightdistribution between said fore conveyance device and said aft conveyancedevice, the weight distribution system includes: a fore weight detectorassociated with said fore conveyance device and configured to create afore weight signal representative of a weight carried by said foreconveyance device; an aft weight detector associated with said aftconveyance device and configured to create an aft weight signalrepresentative of a weight carried by said aft conveyance device; atleast one actuator coupled to said component and configured to move saidcomponent along said chassis; and a controller communicatively coupledto said fore weight detector, said aft weight detector and saidactuator.
 4. The agricultural implement of claim 3, wherein saidcontroller is configured to receive said signals and to actuate said atleast one actuator dependent upon values of said signals.
 5. Theagricultural implement of claim 4, wherein said controller is furtherconfigured to adjust said position of said component dependent upon afirst computed value relating to a compression of ground beneath saidfore conveyance device and a second computed value relating to acompression of ground beneath said aft conveyance device.
 6. Theagricultural implement of claim 5, wherein said controller is furtherconfigured to adjust said position of said component to approximatelyequalize said first computed value and said second computed value. 7.The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein said at least onecomponent is at least one container, each said container beingpositioned on and carried by said chassis, each said containercontaining an ingredient therein which is to be applied to thegeographic area.
 8. A weight distribution system for use with anagricultural implement configured to apply an ingredient to a geographicarea, the agricultural implement having a chassis and a plurality ofweight bearing conveyance devices including a fore conveyance device andan aft conveyance device, the fore and aft conveyance devices beingconnected to and carrying the chassis respectively in a fore and an aftposition of the chassis and at least one component carried by andcoupled to the chassis, the weight distribution system comprising: atleast one actuator configured to adjust a position of the componentrelative to the chassis to thereby alter a weight distribution betweenthe fore conveyance device and the aft conveyance device.
 9. The weightdistribution system of claim 8, wherein said actuator is furtherconfigured to adjust said position of said component as the ingredientis applied to the geographical area.
 10. The weight distribution systemof claim 8, further comprising: a controller; a fore weight detectorassociated with said fore conveyance device and configured to create afore weight signal representative of a weight carried by said foreconveyance device; and an aft weight detector associated with said aftconveyance device and configured to create an aft weight signalrepresentative of a weight carried by said aft conveyance device; andsaid at least one actuator being coupled to said component andconfigured to move said component along said chassis, said controllerbeing communicatively coupled to said fore weight detector, said aftweight detector and said actuator.
 11. The weight distribution system ofclaim 10, wherein said controller is further configured to receive saidsignals and to actuate said at least one actuator dependent upon valuesof said signals.
 12. The weight distribution system of claim 11, whereinsaid controller is further configured to adjust said position of saidcomponent dependent upon a first computed value relating to acompression of ground beneath said fore conveyance device and a secondcomputed value relating to a compression of ground beneath said aftconveyance device.
 13. The weight distribution system of claim 12,wherein said controller is further configured to adjust said position ofsaid component to approximately equalize said first computed value andsaid second computed value.
 14. The weight distribution system of claim8, wherein said at least one component is at least one container, eachsaid container being positioned on and carried by said chassis, eachsaid container containing an ingredient therein which is to be appliedto the geographic area.
 15. A method of distributing weight of anagricultural implement configured to apply an ingredient to a geographicarea, the agricultural implement having a chassis and a plurality ofweight bearing conveyance devices including a fore conveyance device andan aft conveyance device, the fore and aft conveyance devices beingconnected to and carrying the chassis respectively in a fore and an aftposition of the chassis and at least one component carried by andcoupled to the chassis, the method comprising the steps of: determiningthat a weight distribution change between the fore conveyance device andthe aft conveyance device is needed; and adjusting a position of thecomponent relative to the chassis dependent upon a detected weightdistribution determined in said detecting step.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein said steps are carried out by a controller that isconfigured to adjust said position of said component as the ingredientis applied to the geographical area.
 17. The method of claim 15, whereinsaid determining step includes the steps of: creating a fore weightsignal representative of a weight carried by said fore conveyancedevice, said fore weight signal being created by a fore weight detectorassociated with said fore conveyance device; and creating an aft weightsignal representative of a weight carried by said aft conveyance device,said aft weight signal being created by an aft weight detectorassociated with said aft conveyance device, said adjusting stepincluding the step of adjusting at least one actuator coupled to saidcomponent to thereby move said component along said chassis.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein said adjusting a position step is dependentupon values of said signals, said adjusting a position step includingthe step of actuating said at least one actuator dependent upon saidvalues of said signals.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprisingthe step of: computing a first value relating to a compression of groundbeneath said fore conveyance device and a second value relating to acompression of ground beneath said aft conveyance device, said adjustingstep being dependent upon said first value and said second value
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein said component is longitudinally adjusted insaid adjusting step to approximately equalize said first value and saidsecond value.